Friday 26th May
At work all day. Working on a presentation we have to do at a staff conference next week in the hotel just across the road. I’m finding out more about their VET system and how it works. There are 6 other colleges in Botswana, already up and running. From what I’ve heard so far, they are run from the central ministry, just as ours where by the councils pre-incorporation.
Finished at around 4.45 and back at the hotel. I’ll eat early and get an early night after watching some movie or other – I have two movie channels on the TV. Had a veggie burger, but won’t do so again – not wonderful. Meeting more Motswana people – they are friendly and helpful. Smile a lot.
Jan has invited Klavs and myself to visit his roundhaval – a traditional thatched round house where he is currently staying, about 25Km from town. Looking forward to seeing the country outside of town.

Saturday 27th May
Not up until 9.00. Had some tea and toast, and then took a longer walk up Blue Jacket Street and some of the streets parallel to it. Busy, lots of people around. The queues at the bank ATMs are huge – 50 to 60 deep!.Its the end of the month - when most people get paid. I was going to see about opening a bank account, but even the queues inside were too long for me. I’ll try Monday.

Lots of stalls selling fruit and vegetables. Nothing exotic (it is winter), although there were stalls of beans and pulses and other things I’ve never seen before. I wasn’t sure, but one basket looked to be dried insects or larvae. Maybe try them at some time! I have to be careful walking about. I’m looking around trying to take it all in, while avoiding the ditches/holes in the pavements. I spotted what could be a local eatery off a side street in some shacks. Might be worth a venture to next week. Most of the cafes/eating places in town are takeaways. I also found an Indian restaurant, I’ll try that as well. Lots of Indian/Asian/Chinese shops selling all sorts. There are no public phones so there are enterprising individuals sitting at stalls on the pavement with phones that you can use if you don’t have a mobile.

In the afternoon Jan picked me up and Klavs followed in his car, as we went out to the roundhavel. Its on the banks of the Shashi river, a tributary of the Limpopo. The roundhavel, although of traditional design is a modern construction with breezeblock painted walls, several windows, and wire mesh inside to support the thatch. The native roundhavel has mud walls and no windows. It is very cool inside, apparently even in the height of summer. It is in a small walled compound which Jan’s wife was entitled to having been born in the local village. They had to ask the Chief for this when they married. We took a walk on the river – yes, on the river. It is of course dry at this time of year. However, water still flows at about a metre below the sandy river bed and I saw several hose pipes sunk into the sand with pumps taking water to storage tanks on stilts to get pressure when needed. Jan is staying here by himself until his rented house in Francistown is ready – his wife and children remain in a house on Gabarone. Their plan is to construct a house in their compound over the next 2/3 years. Jan looks forward to his retirement there. We had a long walk and because it was over sand and then the bush, my ankle was quite sore at the finish (I wasn’t wearing my splint). After a couple of cool beers, Klavs and I returned to Francistown. I ate early, barbecue chicken + chips, a couple more beers. Bed at 9.30, looking forward to the golf tomorrow.
Sunday 28th May
Up at 6.30. Out of hotel by 7.00 not sure about getting a taxi, but one came along quite quickly. I could have walked, but I was wearing my splint and didn’t want to get too sore before playing. Taxi, 10Pula, just over a £1.

I met my caddie, Aubrey. He is not from Francistown, some place between here and Gabarone, although he was in Gabarone before coming to Francistown. He plays off scratch! The first few holes showed that I hadn’t played at all in the last 6 months - poor stuff. But my swing gradually came back and by the finish was quite happy with the way I was playing. My playing partners were Graham and Tony. Graham was born in London, but has lived in Botswana since the age of 3. It was cool at first, I was in short sleeves, but very hot by the finish at around 12.00. I’ve already got a bit of colour on my face and forearms, even though I’ve used my factor 15.

The course has just 9 holes, but there are several tees at each one and different tees are used for the 18 holes. A couple of holes have alternative ‘browns’. There are of course no greens, no grass anywhere in fact, at least not what we would call grass. Local rules allow you to tee from the fairway, or use a mat. I’ll get a mat for next week, I couldn’t get used to playing off the tee, although at one long par 5 I did try the driver (with some success!). Playing stableford, 9 points first 9, 14 points second. 4 lost balls - the rough is difficult. I’ll get better. I’m entered for a sponsored competition next Sunday. Free lunch!

Tony dropped me off back at the hotel after a couple of beers at the finish. Felt hungry, so took a walk to another shopping centre not far away. I’d not tried to go there before because I need to dodge more traffic. Found a ‘Portuguese’ place and had chilli chicken stir fry. OK. Met some boys in a khaki uniform at the next table. They were from a church mission. I guessed it must have been something like the Salvation Army. They invited me to go there, but I declined. There is some kind of church (gospel?) near to the hotel and it appears quite well attended. Religion is important for many people here. On Friday mornings in our office, people gather to pray and sing a hymn. I was invited, but again declined. The singing was excellent.

Found a Chinese restaurant at the shops, and an African takeaway that was closed. Some of the food was still out but I had no idea what it was. Did a little shopping in the SuperSpar for diet coke (they brand it ‘light’) and some banana bread. My afternoon tea.

I’m watching the Grand prix just now, but I’ll try to get my Blackberry handheld setup later. Too hot to venture out again, so I’ll just watch television tonight and perhaps work on my conference presentation before bed.